College in Ohio Begins $7.91 Million Upgrade Project

Belmont College in St. Clairsville, Ohio, recently started a massive upgrade of its main campus building. The $7.91 million project calls for a new roof, replacement HVAC, a conversion to LEDs, and other energy efficiency updates to the 93,928-square-foot building.

One of the main goals for the project is to have a much more energy-efficient building, John Koucoumaris, the college’s vice president of administrative affairs, said in a press release. Half of the $6.1 construction budget will go toward energy efficiency.

In addition to the roof and HVAC upgrades, more than 620 interior building lights will be converted to LEDs, the 46-year-old doors and windows will be replaced, and a new generator will be installed for back-up power to areas that include the HVAC equipment, computers, and emergency lights.

The main campus building was originally built in 1971, the year the college was founded, and has grown in size through several additions over the years. Ohio-based firm Perspectus Architecture designed the renovation, which is being carried out by contractors Project BEST and JD&E and overseen by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, according to the college. The project is expected to be finished in January 2018.

Belmont College joins other colleges and universities across the country that are reinventing their existing spaces on campus rather than assume the risk of committing to new construction.